Goodbye already and going to Oz
(Lex POV)
The day was calm, too calm... but I wasn't going to say no to that! The day passes by splendidly and there wasn't too much of a headache, some authorities from the capital came that are a part of some royal enforcement group and asked some important questions regarding the hiring of those elusive zodiac bandits. Something notable about their appearance and the artifacts they carried are that they all carried the theme of shapeshifting into a specific species of animal.
Particularly animals that were a a part of the Chinese Zodiac, though they didn't possess any elemental themes that existed in that same frame they also carried somewhat theme related artifacts for example the horse themed bandit carried a special lasso that could attach and restrain anything it comes in contact to, as long as it's user wishes to perform something of that nature, surprisingly it seemed to be just a replica of something else that remained confidential even after we asked.
They applauded Arlan, the knights and I for our bravery in facing against such dangerous foes. I believe I just got lucky my guy just coincidentally managed to walk into the trap I set for him and my skill could have backfired at me as well, because the effects are randomised so it could have reflected somewhere that would have harmed me. Also according to Arlan his rope artifact was quite a few times inferior to the ones he faced... but nonetheless I felt proud I did something I never would have expected in my wildest dreams and the scene of the flying wood fragments and me throwing what's his face out the wall was pretty badass of I do not say so myself.
The enforcement group also offered compensation to my father by proposing some introduction to noble families and an invitation to a banquet, while I could receive a reward for literally murdering a heinous criminal... Well I'm not in the mood to judge the justice system here as long as it's beneficial to me.
I realy do appreciate how my experiences as Kim Oh-Jins relating to death brought some necessary apathy in the face of death, or it could just he another coping mechanism through dissociation of those particular feelings, I guess if there is one thing similar between all three of us is how we deal with our emotions. I laughed mockingly at this thought,
'Thats pretty sad lul.'
Some modern day lingo surprisingly slipped in, I didn't really realise that I'd been behaving more gentlemanly since Lex Armine's memories were nearly the same length as my originals. Thinking about I'm actually really mentally aged now right, Lex Armine was 20 when I took over, Kim Oh-Jin didn't keep track after a few years but appearance wise he seemed in his late 20's to early 30's, and I was 18 when I did pitiful really. So does that make me mentally over 60? Wow I already seemed to have passed the midlife crisis stage.
Anyways, I couldn't think of any artifacts by memory or know what was available so I asked for two things a whole lot of money, to be specific in this world's currency I asked for the bandits bounty amount of 20 thousand yerin or Y's for short. An exponential amount of money that would put me at the thed edge of high class commoners savings and a mid range for nobles. I was also about to ask for a self defense trainer using the fact that I wanted to be able to defend myself, but I was stopped, surprisingly, by Arlan who stood next to me and offered to provide his experience to train me in various things to be a high level slave.
'I'm pretty sure I will get some sort of slave protagonist class soon or when I get branded...'
I've done a lot of lampooning today so I simply agreed and was told the money would be added to my accounts by tomorrow.
So... this is the moment... for me to officially become a slave, I knew of my father simply purchasing slave refugees from an actual slave street vendor, apparently these two's names are Esel being the blue haired and slightly tanned boy... maybe around 15 years in age. The other was a young girl Lily she had maroon hair and fair skin she's two years younger than Esel, they were brought home by my father together around two years ago and have been very obedient though they appear silent my father and I both know how they laugh together so happily on their breaks its honestly adorable.
"I've prepared the necessary ingredients boy are you ready to do your end of the deal?"
I looked at him confidently which he seemed to like cause he had this shit eating grin any time he brought up turning me into a slave, and I don't get why it's honestly such a random turn of events I haven't told him anything but is he aware of my secrets?
Lucas spoke up with a cold tone,
"You won't make him do anything bad right? Son I know you well and that you're confident in going through with this but are you okay?"
Arlan shuddered at my fathers tone, though he scolded me yesterday as well but it wasn't so torturous and he did carry mostly pity when talking with me.
"Yes I'm good with this father it was already a bit much to ask sir Ar... master to help us out considering his position."
At my change in addressed Arlan, dad glared at him which completely disappated his grin and now his face had turned pale. He sighed,
"Alright if he does anything to harm you then just send me word I'll do everything I can to find a way out for you..."
Arlan and I both solemnly nodded my head, Arlan asked me few questions like where I wanted to put the brand, and he informed of what spr of roles I'll be performing under him.
He sketched out a magic circle using a mix of various mix of various fauna and flora of this world. Then he injected magic to it, suddenly I felt locked to him like an invisible chain around me that told me of his wellbeing constantly... I don't like it, this feeling of being controlled wasn't to my liking not cause of a desire for true freedom or some prideful shit like that but more like I had a boss that nagged at me constantly.
"Well done! Now you are officially my slave your orders are..."
He ordered various obvious formalities about his safety, secrets yada yada it was boring. I didn't feel different from listening to his orders but O was aware of the painful experience that came from disobedience, though I could probably will through it with my current pain tolerance level... probably.
My duties now consisted of being subservient like a butler in some ways, I'd learn etiquette, how to cook, serve tea, clean up and some other resources I'd get for free he'd even train me in various things. To be honest it wasn't a bad deal but I was certain that there were hidden intentions that he'd reveal when we're alone.. That'd be pretty soon too because we'd head to the capital soon. Ah yes, the capital, the place where shit always goes down, the perfect place for a protagonist to get into trouble.
I got two days from Arlan to spend with my father, even if he seems to attempt to cause mischief he doesn't seem to be a bad guy. The guy just up and left to do some things and came back to see if I ran away apparently, funny guy really. Dad told me to take the two kids Esel and Lily with me, who knows maybe I'll learn a thing or two about being a slave... God that sounds so wrong to say.
They nodded without hesitation to travel with me and Arlan doesn't mind either. During that time at night in occasion I'd tried various things from the system. I used [Erratic lv. 1] to do some hardcore Parkour across buildings and I found it easier to stabilize myself though I did end up causing a but of a ruckus on the rooftops creating various rumours involving ghost, spirits and just some random burglars alike. Something that's awesome to now have I I've unlocked the inventory!
[[Welcome to the protagonist system!
1. Quests
2. Classes
3. Skills
4. Statistics (Locked until a class has been leveled up)
5. Inventory <
6. Shop (Locked until 4 classes are earned-Status: 1/4)
7. Secrets unlocked (Locked until a unique protagonist class is earned-Status: 0/1)
8. ??????]]
It is seemingly infinite and very convenient to organise and group various items, though to keep up the disguise I left the pouches attached to my waist and stored a lot of the rations that could go to waste now that I had the money that came in. I withdrew a lot of the cash and put it in my inventory for safe keeping. And with that the two days passed I experimented with the various skills when I got some alone time, except for [Bipolar] and [Broken feelings] everything is A' Ok now I just have to try leveling these things up and see if there are any last purchases that need to be made. It was now time to wish farewell to my father, I solemnly hugged him,
"I will send a telegram weekly so don't worry too much about me father, I will try and visit when I am allowed."
Lucas patted my shoulders and looked at me seriously and addressed with name a seldom occurence,
"Listen Lex, I'm aware that you're still hiding things I've known your tics for many years I can tell when you're lying about certain things."
He approached closer and whispered,
"Also about the things that you mentioned I'll search for any previous occurences like it, but for now, take care be safe on your way."
It's a weird experience for all three of the memories inside me to have this conversation, on Earth my dad wasn't very strict, he lives on his own time and I admired his work ethic, though him and mom had a very good talent for making me guilty when I did something wrong too which was a bit of a pain... I already kind of miss it. I as Kim Oh-Jin didn't have a father growing up I grew up an orphan from what little memories I got at that time and lived a life full of chaos when the events on my Earth occurred. Here as Lex Armine, Lucas took me in when I had begun hating the world for giving me the short end of the stick but now I also learned to appreciate the good thing in life. Damn my mental age is really old now huh? Three lives, three different experiences; for me on Earth it was weird accepting another dad into my family hemisphere, Kim Oh-Jin got the dad he never had, and Lex Armine's life took a very chaotic turn after his death and rebirth.
Now it was time to say goodbye and await what trouble I knew would brew entering the capital of Cheshire kingdom, Named Oz...